Tool for separating adhering sheets



July 12,1927.

j 635,640 W. T. SCOTT TOOL FOR SEPARATING ADHERING SHEETS Filed June 26. '1926 INVE/V TO/P Will/am I 50012,

W/TNE5S BY if HTTOR/VEFS' Patented July 12, 1927.

' UNITED sraTss WILLIAM T- s ore. r YOUNGSTOWN; OHIO.-

Toonron SEPARATING ennnnnve snnn'rs.

Application filed June 26, 1926. Serial 110.118,?06;

In the manufacture of metallic sheets and i more particularly those made of ferrous material t is customary to, anneal the sheets or perform certain other operatlons upon 5 them when the-sheets are arranged in piles or packs andit frequently happens as a resalt orthese operations that theindividual sheets adhere or'stick to each other so that they have to be forcibly separated. This condition most frequently arises when the packet sheets is overheated during the anhealing process but whatever be the particular cause thereotthe subsequent separation of the sheets must be effected in such manner and by such means as will prevent damage to the sheets "and particularly to their surface finish.

It is therefore an object of myinventi-on to provide an improved tool for separating the sheets in a pack or pile of sheets which have adhered to each other which is of'such character and which may be so operated as to effect the requisite separation without d amaging the sheets.

' A further object of the invention is. to

provide a'tool adapted for the'pertormance ot the aforesaid function which embodies a separating head of peculiar formation and means for forcing the, head between the adhering sheets by imparting to it a series of blows or impulses delivered in rapid sequenceand which also embodies novel means for maintaining the head in operative relation with the other parts of. the device.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide an improved tool for separating sheets which is of relatively simple construction and not liable to get out of order under conditions of use and in which the separating head is movable with respect to the" main body of the tool, thereby enabling the tool to be applied in the most effective way for separating the sheets and also enhancing the. convenience of operation of the tool as a My invention further includes other objects and novel features of design, construction and arrangement hereinafter referred to more particularly or which will be" apparent from the following ,deseription of apreter'red embodiment ofthe invention as illustrated in the'accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the tool;

Fig. 2' a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 an enlarged transverse section on line 3f3t in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the ar rows; Fig. 4: a. fragmentary detail view, partially in section and partially in new. tion; Fig. 5; a detail view showing. one of the retaining springs and its associated parts removed from the tool, and Fig. 6; a

tragmentary section on line 6.-6' in Fig. 1

but on a slightly larger scale than said fig ure. The same symbols are used to designatethe. same partsin the difierent views.

Speaking generally, thetool comprises a fluid orelectrically operated hammer which may be of any suitable type in operative con'ibination with the separating head whereby there may be imparted to the latter a series of blows or impulses in rapid succession in such "manner that when the edge of the head is disposed at the line of cleavage between two adhering sheets the head may be forced progressivelyforward between the sheets so as to separate them.

hilore specifically, the ha1nmer,'generaily designated as H, may comprise the usual cylinder 1 enclosing a reciprocating plunger and valve mechanism (not shown), handle or grip-2, control valve 3 and nipple 4t tor the reception of the end of the hose or wires by which the fluid or current for operating the hammer is conveyed thereto. As. fluid operated hammers of this general character are well known and in common use additional description thereof would be superfluous, it beingunderstood however that for the purposes of the present invention the hammer may beoperated by fluid such as air or steam or even by electricity so long asgit is'capable of rapidly reciprocating its movable plunger soas to deliver a rapid sequence of blows in the well known manner;

At its forward end the hammer is provided with a socket adapted for the receptionof the shank 5 at the rear end oi' a shaft 6 at the opposite or forward endof whi'clris disposed the separating head 7. V

This head; which is'd'esirably formed of brass bronze or otherfmetalwhieh while relatively hard and durable is at a character which will not injure the sheets, is o'l' some, what peculiar shape having a l'ront edge 8 which is liairly sharp and curved rearwardly l'roni its center in opposite directions toward the sides S) and ill ol' the head when the latter is viewed as in Fig. l and which extend rearwzn'dlr parallel to the axis of the haft (i. From the edge i the upper and lower surfaces or laces ol the heath designated as ll. and are curred outwardly and rearw:u 'dly in opposite directions, then extended parallel to each other and tinally again curred oppositely inwardly until they meet. it will thus be apparent that the "front edge tl ot': the head forms the apex oli a lairly blunt "wedge-shaped element having convex upper and lower faces in the rear of its leading edge so that as the h ad is progresirely inored lmtwcen the adjacent sheets (if the pack the sheets will he l'orced a '1art at. a considerable angle, and further, by reason ol the curvature of the faces oil the head which contact with the snrl'aces ot the slieets the later will not he scratched or otherwise dainaged a the head passes over them.

The head is secured to the shaft ti so as to perniit a limited oscillatory movement with respect thereto in a plane normal to the upper and lower taces ot' the head, and to this end the rear end of the head may he centrally cut out to provide a depression or slot 13 for the reception of the front end ot the shaft which is correspondingly widened at this point so as to lie snugly between the sides of the slot. As best shown in Fig. 6, the forward extremity la of the shaft is pretterably formed on the arc of a circle whose center lies at the axis of the shaft and the bottom l? of the slot formed on a similar radius of curvature, o that when the head and shaft are connected by means of a transversely extending pivot pin to which passes through the end of the shaft and adjacent parts of the head and whose axis is between the said center and the end ol. the shaft; the head capable o't limited rotation or o cillation about the pirot while the abutting engagement ot the sha't't with the bottom of the slot etlects a direct transference to the head at the blows or impulses delivered to the shank of the shaft and thus largely relieves the pivot pin o'l this duty.

l or maintaining the shank 5 ol the shalt (t in the hammer soclrel and the houlder 20 formed on the sha'lt at the base of the shank snugly against the end ot the hammer, 1. provide yielding means. new to he described and which comprise a pair of coil springs 21 and $21 which are preilerahly identical with each other, arranged on opposite sides of the hannner cylinder 1. At each end of each of these spring? is disposed a cap having a circnlarflange adapted to seat against the end of the spring and a central cylindrical part adapted to enter the spring for a short distance. l lach cap is drilled longitudinally to provide a pair ol' parallel spaced holes in one of which is lixedly seated the extreinilw oi aro-(l ill which is extended through the spring and 't'reely through the corresponlh ing hole in the cap at the other end thereot to project thercheyond. ln like manner a corre' ponding rod 23 has one end lixedly seated in the opposite cap, that is, the cap through which rod ii-l l'reely extends, and is extended through the spring in the opposite direction and arranged to project beyond the other cap. that is the cap in which the end ot rod il-lis tented. The ends ot the rods may he secured in the respective caps in any suitable way conveniently by driving the rod through one of the holein the cap and then heading over the end ot' the l'oriuer as showin while the diameter ol the other hole in each cap through which the other rod is extended is made sulliciently great so that the rod is readily inovahle therein. ll will thus be apparent that when the parts just (l( scribed are assembled as shown in Fig. 5 the spring may be compre sed between the caps by pulling on the projecting ends ot the rods in opposite directions, and to enable the attachment. of the assembled device to the tool an eye is formed on the end of each rod after the assembly is ClllllPlOl'Od. it will be understood that: the arrangement ol the rods and caps is the same with respect to each of the springs 91 and Q2 and that. the latter are arranged on opposite sides of and parallel to the hammer cylinder 1.

The eye at the end of each rod :24 disposed adjacent the grip i3 is connected to the latter or other convenient: point by a strap or loop 26 of suitable shape to pass through the opening in the grip and. over the front part thereof and through the eye; preferably each I of these straps is made from a single length of rod which is first bent to ap iroxin'iately proper shape to Torin the strap and its ends then sprung apart so as to enable the strap to he passed through the eye ol? the rod and through the grip atter which the ends are sprung hack into position and welded together. This makes a, strong and safe construction and prevents any chance ol" the ends ot the strap being pulled apart as might be the ase were they not solidly united.

The eye at the end ot each o l. the l'orwardly extending rods 525i is secured to the shalt (3 preferably adjacent its rear end through the medium of a collar surrounding the shaft and comprising a pair ol similar inen'ibers 3-H) and 3] ach having. an arcuate central portion adapted to seat over the shaft and outwardly projecting ends drilled tor the passsage of bolts 32 which serve to clamp the members firmly about the shaft and also to receive the eyes at the ends of: the rods best shown in Fig. 3, and to prevent the col- 11ll11llmlllllllllllltltllllllllllllllltllllllltlllllllllllll lar from slipping loi'igitudinally on the shaft I preferably form in the latter at the point where tl'ie'col'lar' is to'be attached an annular groove 38 and provide the'centralfparts of the members ofthecoll'ar with a corresponding ridge adapted to'seat therein (see Fig.4).

It will of course be understood that the length of the springs, rods and straps is such that when the parts are assembledand the collar secured in position on the shaft the springs will be under compression and thus constantly tend to pull thecollar' and in turn the shaft toward the hammer thereby keeping the shoulder 20 snugly against the end ofthe latter and maintaining the shank of the shaft securelv in position in the socket,

and further, that the action of the springs of the said vibration maintain the desired connection between the hammer proper and the tool shaft at all times and under all conditions of operation and yet permit the tool shaft to be readily removed or replaced when desired. v

It is: thought that the method of operating my ilnproved tool will he' appar'ent without extended description, the edge 8 of the separating head being merely placed against the line of cleavage at the ends or sides of a pair ofadhering sheets and the hammer then op erated so as to impart a series of impulses"- oi blows to the end of'the shank 5, the operator meanwhile pushing the tool forwardly so as to cause the head to'enter between the sheets and force them apart.

sheets and to exert'therequ'isite forward push on the former in the most effective. way to bring about the desired separation of'the' sheets tinder the particular conditions of 013- oration encountered and, as hitherto stated, by reason of the peculiar conformation of the head and the fact that the faces thereof which come into contact with the surfaces of the sheets are curved and devoid of any projecting corners or angles the sheet'surfaces are not scratched or marred during the pass sage of the head thereover while the sheets I are rapidlv and effectively forced apart,

While I have herein described a preferred form of my invention with considerable particularity I do notthere'by desire Ori-ntend By reason of the hinge connection between the head and shaft it is possible to apply the tool to the to limit myself s 'becifically thereto as, if desired, changes may be 1r ade in the design, construction and arrangement of the various parts to" adapt the invention to; different forms of hammers or for other reasons which may make the same advisable without departing from the spirit and scope of the invei on defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States: I T

'1. In a tool of the class" described, the combination of a fluid actuated hammer adapted to deliver a series of blows in rapid succession, a shaft,a headhingedlyconnect-- ed with one end of the shaft and comprising a relatively sharpfree edge and oppositely outwardly curved opposed faces extending therefrom towardits point of connection to the shaft-,a'nd yielding means for operative securing the other end of the shaft to the hammer.

2; In a tool of the class described, the combination of a fluid actuated hammer adapted to deliver a series o-fblows in rapid success-ion, a shaft adapted to receive said blows at one end and having a head hinged ly'conneeted thereto at the other, said head comprising al relatively sharp free edge extending substantially normal to thea-Xis of the shaft and outwardly and oppositely con vexed facesextending from said edge toward said shaft, and yielding means inter posed between the shaft and the hammer adaptedto maintain the shaft in operative relation with the hammer and in a position to receive the blows delivered thereby.

' 8. In a tool of the class described, the

comliination of a fluid actuated hammer adapted to deliver a series ofi-hlows in rapid succession, a shaft having at one end a shank seated in the hammer and adapted to receive said blos and a head pivoted adjacent one end to the opposite end of the. shaft for oscillation with respect thereto about an axis normal to the of the shaft. said head being provid-edwith oppositely outwardly curved faces met into asingl relatively sharp edge at the free end of the head, and means for connecting the'shaft to the hammer comrising a spring disposed parallel to the hammer, and-relatively movable means con necting the ends of the spring respectively with the hammer and with the shaft and adapted to maintain said spring in a state of compression to draw said shaft and hammer together.

4c. In a tool of the class described, the

combination of a fluid actuated hammer 'having a socket, a shaft having one'end adapted to seat in said socket, means for man'ita'ining the shaft 111 the socket, and a head at the"opposite end of the shaft and hingedly secured thereto by' a pivot pin extended transversely "through the head and thrif ngh the shatt, the end ot the shaft being in abutting engagement with the head, whereby the blows delivered by the hann'ner to the shall are transn'littcd directl there through to the head.

fl. In a tool ot the class described, the combination of a liuid actuated hannner having a socket, a shaft having one end adapteal to seat in said socket, inc: 1111 for maintaining the shaft in the socket, a head at the opposite end ol the shaft having a slotadapted to receive the adjacent, end ol'i the shaft, the end ol the shalt and the bottom ot the slot bring l'orlned on the same radius o l curvature and disposed in abutting engagement, and a pivot pin extended transversely through the head and the end ol" the shaft whereby said head is capable o'l' limited. oscillation about the pin with res 'iect to the shalt and the abutting relation of said surfaces coi'istantl maintained throughout the extent of said movement ol' oscillation.

(3. In a tool ol the class described, the combination oil :1 tluid actuated hannnor having a socket adjacent one end, a shatt having an end adapted to seat in said socket and means for yieldingly connecting the hammer and the shaft comprising' a pair of coil springs disposed on opposite sides of the hannncr, a pair of parallel rods extended through each spring and projecting beyond the ends thereof in opposite directions, means for connecting one end ot each rod with the adjacent end of the spring, and means for connecting the other ends of the rods respectively with the hammer and with the shaft.

T. In a tool of the class described, the co1nbination of a tluid actuated hammer having a socket at: one end and a grip at the other, a shalt having one end adapted to seat in said socket and an oscillatory wedge-shaped head at the other, and yielding incans tor inaintaiinng the shaft in the socket and con1- prising a pair of coil springs disposed on op pomite sides of the hammer in parallel relation, a pair of rods extended through each spring and. n'ojeoting beyond the ends thereof in opposite directions, a cap at each end o'li each spring, each cap forming a seat for the adjacent end of one of said rods and a guide for the other red, means connecting the free ends of tho rods adjacent the grip thermvith, and means connecting the free ends of the other rod with the shaft wheroby said springs are maintained under com pression and tend to pull said hammer and said shaft together.

El. 111 a tool of the class described, the combination ot a ttnid actuated hannner havinga socket. a shatt adapted to enter said socket, a removable collar mounted on the shaft, a pair of rods extending on opposite sides of the shafttrom the collar toward the hammer, a coil spring surrounding each rod,

means tor securing the end of each rod to that end ol' the adjacent coil spring remote l roln the collar, another pair of rods respectively extended through said springs, means for connecting the end oi each o'l said rods to that end of the adjacent spring next to the collar, and means For connecting the opposite end ot ea h o'l. said rods to the hammer.

9. In a tool oil" the class described, the combination of a tluid actuated liiannner having a grip at one end and a socket at the other, a sbatt adapted to enter the socket and having a peripheral groove in its surface, a to movable collar engaging said groove and clamped about the sba I'l. and yielding means tor holding said shall x'ratcd in said socket and comprising a pair of rods extending from said collar on opposite sides ot the shaitt toward the grip. a coil spring surrounding each rod, means for connecting the end of each rod to that end of the adjaci-uit. spring remote itroin the collar. another pair of rods respectively exteniling through the springs and projecting tl'ierobeyond in the direction oi the grip, means for securing the end of each of said rods to that end ot the ad jacont springwhich is remote from the grip, and means connecting the other ends of each o't said rods respectively with the grip to thereby maintain said springs under compression.

10. In a tool of the class described, a sheet separating head comprising a body having parallel sides and smooth :tacos extending thorebotu'een from the front edge toward the rear end of the head, said :tront edge being relatively sharp and said faces being out- WtlldlY and oppositely curved therefrom to Ward said rear end. and each face adjacent sa id edge being slightly sloped from its center toward the sides oil? the head.

ill. in a tool of the class described, a shaft and a head disposed adjacent one end thoro oi" and pivoted thereto for limited oscillation in a plane parallel to the axis of the shaft, said head comprising parallel sides disposed normal to the axis of the pivot and oppositely convoxed tacos meeting in av relatively sharp edge remote from that end of the head which pivoted to the shaft.

12. In a tool oi. the cla s described, a shaft; having one of its ends conforming to an arc whose center lies in the axis of the shaft, :1 head having a slot adapted for the reception of the end of tho shatt, the bottom of the slot conforming to the same curvature as the end oi. the shaft, and a, pivot: pin extending transversely through the head and end oil the shalt and connecting the head and the shaft with said curved snriliaees in abutting engage inent, said head having curved upper and lower surfaces meeting in a relatively sharp edge at that end of the head remote from its point of connection with the shaft.

13. In a tool of the class described, the

combination of a fluid actuated "hammer 7 adapted to deliver a series of blows in rapid succession, a slmft,-a;head hingedly connected Withone end of the shaft and comprising a relatively sharp free edge and oppositely outwardly divergent faces extending there-, from toward its point of connection to the shaft, and yielding means for operatively securing the other end of the shaft to the h aInIn er.

WILLIAM T. SCOTT. 

